WINONA LAKE- Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday morning approved a golf cart ordinance for the town.
The ordinance permits the use of a golf cart on a public highway in Winona Lake.
The council previously discussed at its July 14 meeting adopting an ordinance for golf cart usage in the town. The Indiana legislature adopted house bill 1483 that clarifies the status of golf carts being used on public streets and highways.The bill allows cities or towns to approve an ordinance that allows golf carts to be operated on public streets.
The ordinance the council approved Tuesday states a golf cart operated on a public highway in Winona Lake must at all times display either a slow moving vehicle emblem or a red or amber flashing lamp. A golf cart operator also must possess a valid state issued driver's license.
A person must not operate a golf cart on a public highway in the town unless financial responsibility is in effect.
A person who violates the ordinance on first offense will be fined $100. A second offense within a calendar year of the first offense is $250.
The council approved a $168,900 professional engineering services agreement between the town and A&Z Engineering LLC, Fort Wayne, for expanding the greenway.
The agreement includes project management and administration, a topographic survey, utilities coordination, engineering design services, wetland delineation, and bidding with Indiana Department of Transportation.
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach said the agreement will allow the fourth phase of the greenway expansion to take place.
The expansion will be two miles and the town currently has funding through a Transportation Enhancement Grant through INDOT.
The engineering services will take 12-18 months to complete, Allebach said.
The project will include expanding the trail from Chicago Boys Club entrance to Grace College Campus out to Lakeland Christian Academy.
"We are averaging 400-500 people on the greenway a day and have had highs of 1,300 to 1,700 on good days," Allebach said.
"It is phenomenal the usage we are seeing."
Councilwoman Sue Gooding recommended the council look into installing a sign with a map of the trail.
The council also approved an annual conflict of interest statement for Town Council President Terry Howie, who serves as owner of Howie Heating & Cooling.
Street Superintendent Pete O'Connell said there are streets in the town that he has been looking at that need to be repaired.
There is an alley between 11th and 12th streets, Fawn Street, and on the corner of Williams and Roy streets.
Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks said the Winona Lake Park Board has discussed installing additional parking spaces in the town.
She said during activities at the Winona Lake Senior Center it has been hard for those attending to find parking spaces.
Jerry Nelson, 1012 Court St., Winona Lake, expressed his concern with the Court Street sign missing at the corner of Administration Boulevard and Court Street.
The council set a date of Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. following the regularly scheduled council meeting to discuss the town's budget.
Upcoming events in the town include a string violin concert Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Winona Lake Free Methodist Church, Saturday's events include a Billy Sunday Day Saturday and strings violin concert at 11 a.m. at Rodeheaver Auditorium, the Friday shop hop will be Aug. 14, an Antique Car Festival is Aug. 15, and Day of Caring is Aug. 26.
